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LAS VEGAS — Once was not enough.
Less than 20 months after the debut of the first Cirque du Soleil show paying tribute Michael Jackson comes the second: "Michael Jackson ONE"
Cirque president Daniel Lamarre said he'd planned two Jackson-inspired shows "from the first day we got the rights from the (Jackson) estate," with the first production, "Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR," delivering a stadium-sized concert-type presentation and "ONE," a more intimate affair.
The new show is something closer to what Cirque du Soleil usually serves up. It's a multimedia extravaganza that often flies high, but never loses sight of its inspiration.
Saturday's world premiere attracted celebrities including musician Justin Bieber, as well as actors Neil Patrick Harris, Allison Janney and Alfre Woodard.
Also in attendance were Michael Jackson's brothers Marlon, Tito and Jackie, the latter noting during arrivals that most of the Jackson family would be inside the theater for the premiere except for Michael's daughter, Paris. The teen was taken by ambulance from her family's home June 5 and hospitalized.
"She's going to be OK," Jackie Jackson said. "She's getting better."
The brothers said even less when asked about the progress of the lawsuit against concert promoter AEG Live. The family claims the company hired Conrad Murray, the doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter for Michael Jackson's 2009 death.
"We can't elaborate on that, because it's still ongoing," replied Marlon Jackson.
Following a dramatic week of courtroom testimony surrounding Michael Jackson's final days, the brothers seemed relieved to be revisiting Michael's life and work.
"ONE" `'is all about the music," said Marlon Jackson. "This is part of giving back and sharing his legacy."
"ONE" also gives Cirque another crack at producing the ultimate Michael Jackson tribute show.
Some heavyweight media outlets gave "IMMORTAL" lukewarm reviews (The Hollywood Reporter, and the Los Angeles Times among them). And even Cirque president Lamarre said the production was being "tweaked" throughout its North American run.
"ONE" director Jamie King commented, "I think the questions with ('IMMORTAL') was, `Was there enough Cirque? Was there enough Michael?' There's where the confusion (was)."
"'ONE' is very different," explained Lamarre. "It's a total immersion. So, people are going to dive into the universe of Michael Jackson."
Despite mixed reviews and initial production problems, "IMMORTAL" was a box-office smash. According to Forbes, it was the highest-grossing tour in the United States in 2011 and the second-highest in 2012. By the time it traveled overseas, Lamarre said, "IMMORTAL" was greatly improved.
"I cannot wait to bring back `IMMORTAL' (to North America) for people to realize how good a show it is now," he added.
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Patna, India—The deaths of at least 22 schoolchildren in a rural Indian village were found by autopsies to be caused by toxic pesticide residue on a midday meal they were served, the Associated Press reported.
Although results expected to determine the precise chemicals involved were still pending, a government official confirmed that preliminary investigations revealed an organophosphate insecticide, used on wheat and rice crops, was the likely culprit. Officials believe the rice served at lunch was not washed properly, and that the insecticide came either from the food itself or from the cooking oil used. Villagers, however, noted to the AP reporter that the side dish of soya and potatoes seemed to be to blame, as those who did not eat it were fine.
The incident took place in Gandamal village, 50 miles north of the Bihar state capital of Patna. The free meal was given out at the children's school, a daily occurrence within India's massive school nutrition program. The 22 confirmed deaths happened quickly, as dozens of other children, all aged five through 12, were left seriously ill.
Published in WholeFoods Magazine, September 2013

subset: commoncrawl


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Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Tate Eppler, an eighth- grader at Yucca Junior High, was the winner of the statewide junior high division at the 2010 New Mexico Youth Entrepreneur Business Plan Competition held during the Governors Entrepreneurial Summit in Albuquerque Oct. 14-15. His sponsor was Silvia Montano of ENLACE. His parents are Terry and Kym Moore of Clovis and Alan Eppler of Andrews, Texas.
Students were selected by judges to participate by submitting a formal business plan. This statewide competition provided a forum for middle and high school-aged youth from all parts of New Mexico to generate a feasibly business idea. The judge's criteria included entrepreneurial spirit, business knowledge, presentation, feasibility and ease of implementation.
—Submitted by the Epplers


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Source: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
KATZMANN, MARY JANE (Lawson), poet, editor, and historian; b. 15 Jan. 1828 at Preston, N.S., daughter of Christian Conrad Caspar Katzmann and Martha Prescott; m. 31 Dec. 1868 William Lawson, a prominent merchant in Halifax, N.S., and they had a daughter; d. 23 March 1890 in Halifax.
Mary Jane Katzmann's father, a native of Hanover (Federal Republic of Germany), was a graduate of Göttingen University. He obtained a commission in the 60th Regiment of the British army during the Peninsular War, and then settled in Nova Scotia. His wife was descended from a prominent New England planter family. Living amid cultured surroundings, Mary Jane displayed a precocious intelligence and an early interest in literature. She could read at the age of three, and, with the guidance of her family, was largely self-educated. Her early poetical efforts, which Joseph Howe* is said to have encouraged, appeared in various local newspapers.
In January 1852, at age 24, Mary Jane Katzmann became editor of the Provincial, or Halifax Monthly Magazine, and under her expert guidance it became possibly the best of the early Nova Scotian periodicals. The format and printing were superior, and the quality of the contributions was commendable. Unlike Mary Eliza Herbert*, whose Mayflower, or Ladies' Acadian Newspaper (Halifax) had immediately preceded the Provincial, Mary Jane Katzmann tailored her publication to attract a wide audience, both male and female; she also strove to include articles of regional origin rather than selected reprints. Devoted to "advancing the welfare of mankind, by ministering to their cultural improvement, and consequently, their social happiness," the magazine stressed material "of a purely Literary and Scientific character, nothing merely Sectarian or Political." A true expression of the late Romantic and early Victorian intellect, the Provincial carried poetry and prose on such diverse topics as foreign travel, local history, rural idylls, science, and social conditions. It was well received by its readers but sufficient subscriptions were not forthcoming, and publication ceased with the December 1853 issue. Nothing further is known of the editor until 1866, when she was operating the Provincial Bookstore in Halifax; evidence indicates that she was an astute and capable businesswoman.
Following her marriage, Mrs Lawson relinquished the bookstore to her younger sister, and assumed the role expected of a Victorian wife. Much of her free time was devoted to charitable and social causes, particularly those associated with the Church of England; she was revered for her kindness and judicious guidance.
Her later literary efforts included the History of the townships of Dartmouth, Preston and Lawrencetown, Halifax County, N.S., for which she received the Thomas Beamish Akins Historical Prize from King's College, Windsor, in 1887. This collection of vignettes concerning early individuals and settlement in the Dartmouth area was based on an earlier series carried in the Provincial; it remains her enduring contribution to Canadian literature. Although it relies heavily on description and anecdote, and reads much like a Victorian travelogue, the book nevertheless reveals a fine sense of historical detail and comprehension. It also succeeds in being something more than a mere recitation of dates and names; although it can in no way be compared to a modern sociological study, it does convey, in a fashion which many early regional histories lack, a colourful sense of the people and the times. Following Mrs Lawson's death, the history was published in 1893, along with a volume of her verses, entitled Frankincense and myrrh. These poems, covering a 40-year period, reveal a woman of sympathy, sincerity, and piety. They lack, however, the keen wit of her earlier efforts, and much of their quality is marred by sentimentality and effusiveness.
Although Mrs Lawson has been remembered primarily for her single volume of social history, the significance of her earlier career cannot be overlooked. In an age when women accomplished little beyond the circle of home and charity, her success, although limited to the provincial sphere, was threefold: as the capable and youthful editor of a successful, if short-lived, periodical, as an able businesswoman in a circle dominated by male initiative, and as one of the first native Nova Scotian women to achieve literary recognition, and certainly the first to make an enduring impression. Her contribution to the colonial intellectual scene is one which cannot be ignored.
[Mary Jane Katzmann was the editor of the Provincial, or Halifax Monthly Magazine, 1852–53. Her History of the townships of Dartmouth, Preston and Lawrencetown, Halifax County, N.S., was edited by Harry Piers and published in Halifax in 1893. Piers and Constance Fairbanks edited Frankincense and myrrh, selections from the poems of the late Mrs. William Lawson (M.J.K.L.), also published in Halifax in 1893. An obituary published in the Acadian Recorder, 24 March 1890, and a paper by P. R. Blakeley, "Some forgotten women writers of Nova Scotia," read before the Halifax Library Club, 8 March 1950, were also useful. l.k.k.]
© 1982–2024 University of Toronto/Université Laval
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Lois K. Kernaghan, "KATZMANN, MARY JANE," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 11, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed March 4, 2024, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/katzmann_mary_jane_11E.html.
The citation above shows the format for footnotes and endnotes according to the Chicago manual of style (16th edition). Information to be used in other citation formats:
Permalink: | http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/katzmann_mary_jane_11E.html |
Author of Article: | Lois K. Kernaghan |
Title of Article: | KATZMANN, MARY JANE |
Publication Name: | Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 11 |
Publisher: | University of Toronto/Université Laval |
Year of publication: | 1982 |
Year of revision: | 1982 |
Access Date: | March 4, 2024 |


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Agilent ships newest EMPro software release for analyzing 3-D electromagnetic effects
Agilent Technologies Inc. announced shipment of EMPro 2012, its 3-D electromagnetic simulation software.
EMPro 2012 allows designers to more easily create 3-D models and analyze the electrical performance of packages, connectors, antennas, and other RF and high-speed components. It delivers a number of critical features for new and existing EMPro users, including:
- Enhanced integration between EMPro and Advanced Design System, enabling users to save EMPro projects as ADS libraries; availability of 3-D models in ADS as schematic and layout views; and availability of parameters created in EMPro in ADS for EM sweep/optimization. Additionally, changes made in EMPro now dynamically update in ADS.
- A low-frequency analysis algorithm that enables stable, accurate results down to very low frequencies (below100 MHz, including at DC). The algorithm also provides accurate DC results for use in higher-frequency circuit simulations.
- Faster Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations (1.4X compared with EMPro 2011) stemming from technology advancements that increase the robustness and speed (two to three times faster) of the FEM mesher.
Currently supported Agilent customers interested in the EMPro 2012 technologies, applications and capabilities should contact their local applications engineer or field sales person for more information.
EMPro 2012 is now available for download at www.agilent.com/find/eesof-empro-downloads-and-trials. Application examples covering a wide range of topics, including packaging, antennas, RF PCBs, RF modules, connectors and radar applications can be downloaded at edocs.soco.agilent.com/display/eesofapps/EM+Applications.
More information on EMPro 2012 is available at www.agilent.com/find/eesof-empro. An image of the software release is available at www.agilent.com/find/EMPro2012_images. Visit the Agilent YouTube network at www.youtube.com/AgilentTM to see latest products and applications videos in electronic design and measurement.


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Naval Academy Sailing Foundation
The Naval Academy Sailing Foundation (NASF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable tax-exempt organization chartered in the State of Maryland. Its sole mission is to support the sail training program at the Naval Academy. The Foundation's trustees are selected from either active or former Fales Committee members. The Foundation seeks and manages donations of sailing yachts and equipment for the Naval Academy's sail training program. Donated boats are owned by the Foundation and chartered to the Naval Academy. When these boats are no longer needed in the sailing program, NASF then markets the boats and the proceeds are deposited into the Foundation's professionally managed investment account. The income stream from this portfolio, and from the sale of boats, funds the operation of NASF and also provides funding for various on-the-water activities for Navy's sail training program.
In addition to providing a steady flow of offshore boats for both the Varsity Offshore and OSTS programs, and building the investment account, the Foundation has contributed additional support (of which a partial list follows) to the sailing program by providing through donors, as well as from its own resources:
- Funding for the design and some of the quality control for the fleet of Navy 44s, greatly expediting their delivery
- Transportation, insurance, survey and maintenance expenses, when necessary, for newly donated boats
- Four flights of sailboards and the salary for a sailboard coach for approximately a decade
- The Vanderstar Sailing Chair is funded through the Foundation by Mr. Cornelius Vanderstar
For more information and contact information, please go to navalacademysailingfoundation.org.


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White House offers birth control compromise
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama declared Friday he's found a solution to a birth-control uproar that will protect religious liberty but also ensure that women have access to free contraception, as he rushed to defuse an election-year issue that threatened to overtake his administration.
Capping weeks of growing controversy, Obama announced he was backing off a newly announced requirement for religious employers to provide free birth control coverage even if it runs counter to their religious beliefs. Instead, workers at such institutions will be able to get free contraception directly from health insurance companies.
"Religious liberty will be protected and a law that requires free preventative care will not discriminate against women," Obama said in an appearance in the White House briefing room.
"I understand some folks in Washington want to treat this as another political wedge issue. But it shouldn't be. I certainly never saw it that way," Obama said. "This is an issue where people of good will on both sides of the debate have been sorting through some very complicated questions."
Obama's abrupt shift was an attempt to satisfy both sides of a deeply sensitive debate, and most urgently, to end a mounting political nightmare for the White House.
Although the administration had originally given itself more than year to work out the details of the new birth control coverage requirement for religious employers, the president acknowledged that the situation had become untenable and demanded a swift solution.
Congressional Republicans as well as GOP presidential hopefuls were beating up on Obama relentlessly over the issue, and even Democrats and liberal groups allied with the Roman Catholic church were defecting.
"After the many genuine concerns that have been raised over the last few weeks, as well as frankly the more cynical desire on the part of some to make this into a political football, it became clear that spending months hammering out a solution was not going to be an option. That we needed to move this faster," Obama said. He said that he directed the Department of Health and Human Services last week to speed up the process from a matter of months to days.
Women will still get guaranteed access to birth control without co-pays or premiums no matter where they work, a provision of Obama's health care law that he insisted must remain. But religious universities and hospitals that see contraception as an unconscionable violation of their faith can refuse to cover it, and insurance companies will then have to step in to do so.
The leader of a Catholic organization and a prominent women's group both expressed initial support for the changes.
"The framework developed has responded to the issues we identified that needed to be fixed," Sister Carol Keehan, president of the Catholic Health Association, a trade group representing Catholic hospitals that had fought against the birth control requirement, said in a statement.
Planned Parenthood also backed the revisions, saying the Obama administration was still committed to ensuring all women have access to birth control coverage, no matter where they work.
"We believe the compliance mechanism does not compromise a woman's ability to access these critical birth control benefits," Cecile Richards, the women's group president, said.
By keeping free contraception for employers at religious workplaces -- but providing a different way to do it -- Obama was able to assert he gave no ground on the basic principle of full preventative care that matters most to Obama.
Yet, it also was clear that the president felt he had no choice but to retreat on a three-week-old policy in the face of a fierce political furor that showed no signs of cooling.
Officials said Obama has the legal authority to order insurance companies to provide free contraception coverage directly to workers. He will demand it in a new rule.
Following an intense White House debate that led to the original policy, officials said Obama seriously weighed the concerns over religious liberty, leading to the revamped decision.
Before announcing the revamped policy at the White House, Obama called Keehan, Richards and Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
But the change just led to more criticism from some of Obama's opponents. Texas Republican Rep. Kevin Brady said the revamped rule marked a "full scale retreat by a disconnected president who now knows that Washington shouldn't force American to abandon their religious convictions."
It was just on Jan. 20 that the Obama administration announced that religious-affiliated employers -- outside of churches and houses of worships -- had to cover birth control free of charge as preventative care for women. These hospitals, schools and charities were given an extra year to comply, until August 2013, but that concession failed to satisfy opponents, who responded with outrage.
Catholic cardinals and bishops across the country assailed the policy in Sunday Masses. Republican leaders in Congress promised emergency legislation to overturn Obama's move. The president's rivals in the race for the White House accused him of attacking religion. Prominent lawmakers from Obama's own party began openly deriding the policy.
The sentiment on the other side, though, was also fierce. Women's groups, liberal religious leaders and health advocates pressed Obama not to cave in on the issue.
The furor has consumed media attention and threatened to undermine Obama's re-election bid just as he was in stride with improving economic news. Political reality forced the White House to come up with a solution to a complex matter must faster than anticipated.
Under the new policy, religious employers will not be required to offer contraception and will not have to refer their employees to places that provide it. Instead, the employer's insurance company must provide birth control for free in a separate arrangement with workers who want it.
The change will still take affect with an extra year built in, in August 2013.
Already, 28 states had required health insurance plans to cover birth control before the federal regulations were issued.
However, they appear to have differing exemptions for religious employers.
Obama's health care law requires most insurance plans to cover women's preventative services, without a co-pay, starting on Aug. 1, 2012. Those services include well-women visits, domestic violence screening and contraception, all designed to encourage health care that many women may otherwise find unaffordable.
The White House says covering contraception saves insurance companies money by keeping women healthy. But the plan is likely to meet resistance from insurers. Although administration officials are right that contraception is cost effective, insurers may well argue that it's not free, either. And the industry might balk at what amounts to a coverage mandate on it.
Without adjusting his stand, Obama has risked alienated Catholics who have become courted swing voters in such pivotal political states as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. In 2008, Obama won 54 percent of the total Catholic vote, compared to 45 percent for Republican John McCain.
As the week wore on, the White House increasingly signaled that a change was coming.
Vice President Joe Biden, a Catholic, said in a radio interview Thursday that "there is going to be a significant attempt to work this out and there is time to do that."
Outside advocates were urging a quick resolution.
"As a Catholic I don't want to hear about this in Mass every week until the election," said Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats For Life of America. "I don't think it's good for the party and I don't think it's good for Obama's re-election chances."


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In one of his first actions concerning the environment, President Obama directed the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lisa Jackson, to immediately reconsider the Bush administration's denial of California's request to implement its groundbreaking "Clean Cars Program." If California's request is approved, drivers in California and at least 13 other states would have greater opportunities to buy cleaner, more fuel efficient cars.
The California Clean Cars Program is the first in the nation to reduce global warming pollution from passenger vehicles. Passed by the California legislature in 2002, the law requires a 30 percent reduction in global warming pollution from new cars by 2016. Under federal law, however, California needs approval from the EPA to enforce its program, and in late 2007 the Bush administration denied California this approval.
Although we expect the Obama administration to reverse this decision, automakers and their allies are claiming -- just as they did with seat belts and air bags -- that they can't afford to comply with the new standards. Meanwhile, the automakers -- some of which are taking tens of billions of dollars in federal bailout loans -- are spending tens of millions of dollars suing California and other states to stop the program.
The EPA is accepting public comments through April 6th on whether to allow California to implement the Clean Cars Program.
What to do:


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Not much of a genealogy day - did not advance the research ball at all due to family and baseball time conflicts.
* Read email and blogs before going off to the CGSSD meeting at 8:15 AM. Noted that Surname Saturday -- METCALF (England > MA > NH > NY) posted - written last night.
* Sat in on Gary Hoffman's talk about Web-based family trees using The Next Generation - works quick and seems easy. He's using it for a family association with many contributors. The Debby Horton talked about publishing a book - interesting and challenging. She laid out the options for writing, indexing, editing, marketing, producing and distributing books on paper or in electronic format. Very thorough.
* Was home by 12:30 PM, got caught up on everything and the girls came home. Noted that Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - The Time Machine posted. Everybody went down for a nap, including me while watching the Padres game. Padres won 8-4 over Cards in the 9th inning to break latest losing streak and hold onto second place in NL West.
* Everybody up and went swimming except me - read everything and then met them for dinner at Lolita's. Home by 6:30 PM.
* Watched football until after 8:30 PM when girls went down, then checked Facebook, read everything, and started on the Best of post for Sunday.
Genealogy today was 5.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 3.0 hours at CGSSD meeting, and 1.0 hour writing blog posts.


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- March 1, 2024
Robert James Bradley, 87, of Sarasota and formerly of Longboat Key, died Jan. 22.
Born March 16, 1922, in Jersey City, N.J., he moved to Buffalo, N.Y., as a child and graduated from Kensington High School, in Buffalo. Mr. Bradley served in the U.S. Army during World War II, achieving the rank of sergeant, and spent two years in the South Pacific before he was honorably discharged in November 1945. He and his brothers, Bill and Jack, founded Bradley and Sons Roofing. Mr. Bradley went on to start a building-supply business and eventually owned and managed multiple nursing homes and commercial real-estate properties in Western New York and Florida.
In the early 1990s, Mr. Bradley moved to Longboat Key. He was a former member of the Longboat Key Club. He enjoyed golf, tennis and skiing.
Mr. Bradley was preceded in death by his sons, Michael and Jeffrey. He is survived by his sons Robert Jr., Gregory, Steven and Douglas; daughters Kathleen Donahue, Susan Ulrich and Amy Bortner; friend and former wife Arlene Bradley; brother, John; 21 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at First Presbyterian Church of East Aurora, 9 Paine St., East Aurora, N.Y., 14052.


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You're reading an outdated article. Please go to the recent issues to find up-to-date content.
Starting around age 40, a person's ability to see gradually diminishes. Statistics estimate one of the 78 million U.S. baby boomers turns 60 every seven seconds. These statistics verify the projection that half the U.S. population will be older than 65 by 2032. And, according the AARP, 90 percent of baby boomers want to continue living in their own homes as they age.
What does this mean for electrical contractors? This huge demographic has—and will continue to have—a need for age-appropriate lighting. However, lighting in most homes was not designed to adapt to occupants' aging vision.
Aging takes its toll on the visual system in a number of ways. Vision experts agree less light reaches the back of aging eyes, pupils get smaller and the lenses thicken, absorbing more light. In addition, aging eyes lose their ability to distinguish the contrast and sharpness of images and vividness of colors. Decreased vision contributes to falls or other accidents. Good lighting can help prevent potentially life-threatening injuries.
Older adults lose peripheral vision, causing their visual world to narrow. Their reaction time slows to enable the occipital cortex to interpret what is seen. They lose night vision and also may develop cataracts that cause blurriness. Some develop macular degeneration (common with diabetes), causing loss of central vision.
Loss of sensation to the lower extremities is another aging problem, according to Cris Rowan, an occupational therapist in Sechelt, British Columbia.
"Peripheral neuropathy causes seniors to rely more heavily on vision for mobility, because often they aren't able to 'feel' their feet. All these factors contribute to increased risk of falls," Rowan said.
In addition, a delayed adaptation from light to dark is a challenge for seniors. Their eyes adapt slowly to different lighting levels, making them susceptible to falls in halls, entrances and stairs. Glare from poorly shaded lighting sources, reflective surfaces and large building apertures can cause acute discomfort.
Rowan recommends these home lighting modifications:
• Path lighting—Install wall mounts 2 feet above the floor in paths frequented at night, such as between the bed and bathroom and between the bedroom and kitchen, to improve nighttime vision. Older adults usually don't want to wake their spouse by turning on overhead lighting at night.
• Task lighting—Use overhead pot lamps or under-counter mounts. Install in the kitchen, bathroom (over toilet, sink), den desk, laundry and the garage work bench.
• Stair lighting—Direct overhead and/or side mounts 2 feet above floor level to illuminate stairs (the most frequent area for falls).
• Natural light—Because natural light has no glare, optimize vision with windows in areas as much as possible.
Rowan recommends a "new age" lighting product called Ott-lite, an HD frequency that illuminates without the glare. See www.Ott-Lite.com.
An excellent older adult lighting resource is ANSI-approved RP-28-07, Lighting and the Visual Environment for Senior Living, from the Illuminating Engineering Society. The publication is loaded with technical information and practical indoor/outdoor lighting solutions for private homes as well as commercial and institutional settings, such as assisted living facilities. (Visit www.ies.org and select "bookstore.")
The IES book devotes 20 pages to area-specific lighting solutions. For example, a color photo demonstrates how rope stair lighting one foot above the stair tread is controlled by a motion sensor. Decorative molding above the rope directs the light down, away from residents' eyes.
Newer lighting technology
Studies have shown a 65-year-old may need up to 15 times as much light to read as a 10-year-old. A visually impaired person may need three times as much light to read as someone the same age who is not visually impaired. In most cases, brighter is better.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in illuminated magnifiers are invaluable for people with visual impairments, said Bryan Gerritsen, a lighting consultant for the American Foundation for the Blind, Center on Vision Loss, Dallas.
"Diodes of various colors and intensity have been used in the past, but most recently, chips and multichips are utilized with these illuminated magnifiers," Gerritsen said.
Older adults need more choices of LED desk lamps and easy chair lights, Gerritsen said.
"LED table lamps are becoming available in some stores and Web sites. More are needed. Floor lamps should be positioned next to the older person's easy chair, couch or bed to provide task lighting while reading or sewing," Gerritsen said.
Gerritsen said yellow LEDs' high contrast and minimal glare have proven effective. However, bright white LEDs have been the best choice for many of his clients. A design providing a wide fan or spread of light is still best.
Standards needed
Lighting standards already exist for performing tasks such as reading, threading a needle, cooking and grooming. However, older adults—and others with vision problems, such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or cataracts—need much more light than the standards currently call for.
This has strong implications when planning to light kitchens, bathrooms, clothes closets, entrances and stairways. Gerritsen advised adding extra lighting in cabinets where dishes are stored, near doorways to illuminate the key lock, and possibly near electrical outlets to assist in inserting plugs.
Older adult lighting concerns
"Full spectrum" or daylight lamps have become increasingly popular in recent years. Yet some research has shown "blue light," generally present in these lamps over 5,000 Kelvin, may be linked to macular degeneration, the most common cause of vision loss in the Western hemisphere, Gerritsen said.
"Therefore, there are concerns about using full spectrum lamps as a floor lamp or desk lamp for long-term reading, crocheting, and task illumination. Other options are likely needed, including more LED lamps and incandescent lamps," he said.
The Eskaton National Demonstration Home (www.eskaton.org) in Roseville, Calif., which showcases Universal Design aging-in-place principles, uses LED and compact flourescent lamp (CFL) lighting throughout. California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) specified the demo home's senior-friendly lighting. A University of California, Davis affiliate, CLTC works with manufacturers to take lighting ideas from concept to the marketplace.
According to Kelly Cunningham, outreach coordinator at CLTC, dark-adjusted older eyes take 20 minutes to readjust after being exposed to sudden light, and this time increases with age. Seniors also get up more frequently to use the bathroom at night, meaning whether the lights are on or off, they need to be able to see sufficiently.
"A 2-watt LED can provide enough light to reach the toilet without turning the main light to full brightness," Cunningham said.
The demo house uses a motion-sensing carriage light with a CFL bulb and an LED downlight, according to Eskaton's Kathy Hatten. Besides conserving energy, the carriage light incorporates a safety feature.
"The downlight's photo sensor automatically turns it on after dark. An occupancy sensor activates the main lamp when motion is detected. When that bulb burns out, the LED downlight remains lit, enabling the homeowner to safely see in the dark," Hatten said.
Hatten said demo house visitors are impressed with the aesthetically pleasing Smart Vanity lighting fixture, a prototype developed by CLTC.
"The LED downlight turns on when it senses motion, using a soft ambient light that will not cause the blinding sensation of sudden exposure to bright light," Hatten said. "The main light turns on slowly and gradually increases the light level. Aging eyes are much more sensitive to sudden changes in lighting levels, making this fixture both senior friendly, as well as energy efficient due to occupancy sensor, LED and CFL high-efficiency bulbs."
Bathroom lighting considerations
Because people remove their glasses while showering, sufficient bathroom lighting is critical. Shower/bath lights should not be obscured by the shower curtain or steam. Consider dimmers for main bathroom lighting. Low nighttime bathroom light levels mean aging eyes do not have to readjust to a dark bedroom.
In bedrooms and baths, illuminated light switches with warm-colored nightlights low on the walls are an effective nocturnal path-finding solution. Rope lighting controlled by a switch or motion sensor is another low-level night-lighting option for senior bathrooms. Swash bidet toilet seats from Brondell (www.brondell.com) have four blue LED nightlights to illuminate bathrooms with a soft glow.
For baths without windows or skylights, general lighting controls can be placed outside the door to avoid entering an otherwise dark space.
Daylight can be balanced with ambient light from dimmable hanging fluorescent ceiling fixtures that bounce light off the ceiling and downward. Many seniors are adding skylights to increase daytime lighting, especially in closets and bathrooms.
Eliminating glare is critical for those with low vision. Reposition television sets, so sunlight or lamplight does not shine directly on them. Cover windows with shades or miniblinds, so light can be adjusted during the course of the day. Look for low-glare and natural daylight light bulbs.
Mariana Gross Figureiro, Ph.D., professor at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., offered these older adult lighting tips:
• Avoid clear glass luminaires.
• Identify where visual tasks (reading, cooking, sewing, office work) will be performed, and put extra lighting in those areas.
• Use switches/dimmers for residents to adjust lighting levels.
As they move through their life cycles, assertive baby boomers have made a tremendous impact on the U.S. economy. They likely will demand better lighting in their own homes, assisted living and nursing care facilities. You can bet lighting designers and manufacturers are preparing for this aging tidal wave. Will electrical contractors be ready, as well?
WOODS writes for many consumer and trade publications. She can be reached at [email protected].


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This article originally ran in the January/February 2013 issue of Food Manufacturing.
The Food Manufacturing Brainstorm features industry experts sharing their perspectives on issues critical to the overall food industry marketplace. In this issue, we ask:
Poultry has long been one of the least automated food processing sectors. As automation equipment becomes more sophisticated, how will poultry processors see their business practices change?
In our experience, the larger poultry processing plants are utilizing a high level of automation presently, especially when compared to other meat categories. That being said, there is still a fair amount of hand work involved, especially in the secondary processing applications.
The major processors all seem to be keenly focused on improving efficiency and through-put (birds per minute) in order to pay for the increased capitalization of the new technologies they're considering. Processors are eager for any process improvement that they can utilize, and this can range from expensive changes such as more highly automated equipment to more affordable alternatives such as faster or more efficient motors, as well as innovations in blade design.
Processors will need to rely more heavily on successful preventive maintenance programs as any work stoppage is a cost in terms of labor and lost production. And growers will continue to be presses for bird size uniformity. Automation generally requires uniformity of work pieces.
Ultimately, it's about removing variability. One would think that employee costs (payroll, benefits, health care, etc.) would decrease in the face of increased automation. However, new technology generally implies that a need will arise for more highly trained and educated employees.
See Part I here.


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2012 Aston Martin DBS
TRIM | Original MSRP | 5-Year Cost to Own | Compare |
2012 Aston Martin DBS Expert Review
MotorTrend Staff
The Aston Martin DBS serves as Aston Martin's flagship coupe (and convertible). It is not a pure exotic, nor a pure luxury car—it's a hybrid of the two: a luxotic. In 2009, the DBS Volante was added alongside the DBS coupe giving James Bond a "topless" option. Unlike many competitors, Aston Martin chose to go with a ragtop in lieu of a folding hardtop. The decision was determined to minimize cost as well as preserve looks and cargo capacity.
The DBS coupe can be ordered as a 2+2 or as a two-seater; the DBS Volante comes strictly as a 2+2. Rear seats are considered for occasional use by children or for packages. From its sensuous body, with a long hood and short deck, the 2012 Aston Martin DBS is a grand touring coupe or convertible in every sense. A leather- and Alcantara-wrapped interior, and crystal push-button start system hint at its exclusivity.
It's powered by Aston Martin's 510 horsepower 6.0-liter V-12 which cranks out 420 lb-ft of torque. It rides on standard 20-inch alloy wheels fitted with massive 295/30 rear tires help put the V-12's torque to the pavement. Front tires are 245/35R20.
Body styles: Two-door coupe, two-door convertible
Engine: 6.0L V-12
Transmissions: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic
Models: DBS Coupe, DBS Volante (convertible)
For 2012, Aston Martin revised the stability control system to better help the rear wheels find traction when all 510 horsepower are unleashed. The DBS Volante convertible returns with a 13-speaker Bang & Olufsen's BeoSound DBS audio system is standard. Aston Martin is readying a new single-clutch transmission to give the manual-like shifts with the convenience of an automatic. No word on when the new transmission will arrive. Until then a six-speed manual is standard and a six-speed Touchtronic torque-converter automatic is optional.
Body panels aerodynamically perfected in the wind tunnel still look good as they cover the DBS' underpinnings. A good thing, as we've never seen an ugly Aston.
The 2012 Aston Martin DBS interior features semi-aniline leather from seven hides and Alcantara. Matrix alloy trim adorns the dash and center console features an Iridium Silver finish and the interior also features accents of aluminum, carbon fiber, and piano-black wood, and the buttons of the center console are made of glass. Automatic transmission cars replace the conventional shifter with Park/Drive/Reverse buttons on the center stack. It also comes with steering column paddles for manual control. LED interior lighting is standard. Garmin supplies the satellite-based navigation system. A 13-speaker Bang & Olufsen's BeoSound DBS audio system is standard.
The DBS takes the top spot in Aston Martin's coupe hierarchy—not only in price but also performance. In this iteration the Aston Martin's 6.0-liter V-12 makes 510 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque—that's 20 more horsepower and the same torque as the cheaper Virage and 40 more horsepower but 23 less lb-ft of torque than the DB9. The last DBS we tested nailed 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and finished the quarter-mile in 12.4 seconds at 117.4 mph. It comes standard with carbon ceramic brakes that help it go from 60 mph to zero in a mere 107 feet. The 3800-pound coupe brings balanced handling to the figure-eight and its motions suggest a much smaller car.
Like all Aston Martin coupes/convertibles, the DBS comes with four airbags - front and side impact - to protect its occupants. Massive brakes—15.7-inch front and 14.2-inch rear ventilated, carbon ceramic rotors are clamped by six-piston and four-piston calipers front and rear, respectively. All DBSs come with ABS, electronic braking distribution, traction control, electronic brake assist, and dynamic stability control. S models add Positive Torque Control. A tire pressure monitoring system is standard.
DBS: 11-12 mpg city/17-18 mpg highway
- Fast
- Handling
- Exclusive
- Plush interior
- Expensive
- Fuel economy
Luxotic hits the sweet spot
2012 Aston Martin DBS Specifications
Engine Name | V12, 6.0 Liter |
Trim | Base (Manual) Coupe |
Horsepower | 510@6,500 |
Torque | 420@5,750 |
Number Of Cylinders | 12 |
Front Headroom | N/A |
Rear Headroom | N/A |
Front Legroom | N/A |
Rear Legroom | N/A |
Front Shoulder Room | N/A |


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Gordon Hanson has set up a Shadow Committee on U.S. Trade Policy, and has asked several economists to respond to specific questions. Here is the one I was charged with:
Rightly or wrongly, some have interpreted Krugman's recent Nobel address, which has gotten considerable play in Washington, as implying ambivalence about the benefits of trade for the U.S. What does trade theory tell us about the initiatives the US should make a priority in its trade policy agenda?
And my answer:
A society's gains from trade liberalization in different sectors depend on a lot of things, but as a rule of thumb, it is useful to focus on three things. (Here I will look at only U.S. policies, leaving aside the question of which initiatives should be pursued abroad.)
First, how large is the trade restriction (or subsidy) in question? Economic theory tells us that the gains from removing a tax or subsidy rise with the square of the wedge. So sectors where there are large policy interventions are particularly ripe for liberalization, everything else held constant.
Second, what is the likelihood that the liberalization will aggravate a pre-existing market imperfection? In the case of the U.S., the main imperfection I would worry about is technological externalities. These spillovers are likely to be associated with activities that employ lots of highly-skilled workers. My rule of thumb here would be that liberalization that results in the contraction of sectors that employ such workers is unlikely to generate much gains, and may even be harmful.
Third, is the liberalization likely to worsen income distribution at home? Many economists disregard distributional concerns (either because they do not think these are important, or else because they assume other policy instruments are available to deal with equity). But I do not find this a tenable position. So I would argue that any potential efficiency gains have to be traded off against potentially adverse movements in income distribution.
How do these considerations inform the question at hand, namely the nature of the initiatives the US should make a priority in its trade policy agenda?
Consider some obvious initiatives. On narrow economic efficiency grounds, the reform that would generate the biggest bang for the buck by far is the relaxation of visa restrictions that prevent unskilled workers from poor nations from being employed in the U.S. This is because the magnitude of the barrier in question here (measured by the wedge between earnings of otherwise similar low skill workers here and in poor countries) is bigger than in any other area of international commerce. But the trouble is that the likely distributional impact is also very adverse. So we can generate the efficiency gains only at the expense of making domestic unskilled workers worse off. Considerations 1 and 3 clash.
How about further trade liberalization in the conventional areas of manufactures? The problem here is that the barriers are already extremely low (in the low single digits), and the efficiency gains to be had are correspondingly small.
How about outsourcing? Outsourcing of low-skilled labor is on the whole bad for income distribution, while out-sourcing of high-skilled labor may run against consideration 2, the need to keep sectors that are the likely depositories of technological externalities at home.
So where does this leave us? I can think of two areas of liberalization where existing barriers are high and do not face the objections that I have considered so far.
First, agriculture. Subsidies and other trade-distorting measures are rampant in agriculture, especially in crops like cotton and sugar. It is hard to argue that these activities generate externalities or that their contraction would be bad for income distribution as a whole. So this is clearly an area of priority. (Note that I am not considering the impacts on other countries, which is not my focus here. The positive impacts abroad are typically vastly exaggerated, but the domestic benefits are not in question.)
Second, visa restrictions on highly-skilled foreign workers. The barriers here are large, since we know the visa quotas bind severely. Allowing more foreign scientists and engineers in will reduce incentives to outsource technologically-advanced operations abroad, and will help expand sectors that are likely to generate positive spillovers. The distributional effects are unlikely to be adverse, as it is the top of the labor market that will be affected.
So the trade policy initiatives that deserve priority in the U.S. are: liberalize agricultural trade, and expand visa quotas for highly skilled foreign workers.
Note that the U.S. can do both of these on its own, and does not need Doha or action on the part of the rest of the world to reap the gains from these reforms.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
The "Fairy House Festival" extends to two days in June
Artpark seeks local schools, Scout groups, regional artists, groups and families to create fairy houses for display at its annual "Fairy House Festival." The second annual festival returns to Artpark June 9-10. It will feature a tour of fairy houses throughout the woods and gardens of the park, a book signing by children's book author Tracy Kane, art activities and other whimsical fun for families to enjoy.
Fairy houses are small structures built from sticks, dry grasses, leaves, pinecones and other found natural materials. The simple and fun challenge of creating a fairy house connects children with nature and encourages respect for the environment.
Building guidelines, applications and photos of fairy houses can be found at www.artpark.net. The application deadline is March 1, although completed houses may be submitted at a later date.
For more information on the "Fairy House Festival" and how to enter, visit www.artpark.net or call 716-754-4375.


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What to Eat While Pregnant
You may be doing great by already packing an alphabet's worth of vitamins and a mother load of minerals into your daily meals, however, you might still worry that you're not taking in enough of the nutritional right stuff — especially if your appetite hasn't quite gotten up to speed yet, thanks to early pregnancy queasies.
Enter the "nutritional superstars" — a few familiar faces and a couple of up-and-comers that bring down the house with their performances in the dietary arena. At 11 weeks, these twelve pregnancy power foods pack an amazing amount of nutrients into just a few bites, making them especially effective when efficiency is a priority (as when you're too sick to eat much, when you're gaining weight too fast, or when you're not gaining quickly enough). Put all of the following "it" foods on your A list:
- Avocados: Loaded with folic acid (vital to forming your baby's brain and nervous system), potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 (which not only helps baby's tissue and brain growth, but may also help with your morning sickness), avocados are a delicious way to get your vitamins. Spread some ripe avocado on your whole grain roll as a healthy substitute for mayo. Keep in mind that avocados are high in fat (though the very good kind) and calories, so heap them on your plate only if you're having trouble gaining weight.
- Broccoli: America's favorite cruciferous vegetable, packed with plenty of vitamins A and C, with a calcium bonus (better to build those baby bones with), as well as baby-friendly folic acid. Toss into pasta or casseroles, stir-fry with seafood or chicken, serve steamed (with or without a vinaigrette), or dunk in dip.
- Carrots: What's up, Doc? Here's what: Carrots are tops when it comes to vitamin A, so important for the development of your baby's bones, teeth, and eyes. They're perfect for munching on the go, but they also shred neatly into almost anything (from salads to meatloaf to cakes to muffins). Carrots are also a good source of vitamins B6 and C, and fiber to keep things movin'.
- DHA eggs: The old egg is still a good egg, delivering a low-calorie, high-protein punch in a tasty little bundle. But here's news: Science now lets us scramble, fry, or boil better eggs, naturally loaded with DHA, one type of omega-3 fatty acid (the "good fat") that is a primary component of the brain and retina, and is essential for brain development and eye formation in the fetus. Plus, they taste just like the eggs you've always loved.
- Edamame: These green pods are actually cooked soybeans — and they taste so much better than they sound. Packed with protein, calcium, folic acid, and vitamins A and B, edamame can be scooped up by the handful as a snack (salt them lightly, and you'll never miss the chips), or tossed into just about anything you're cooking, from soups, to pasta, to casseroles, to succotash, to stir-fry. They also make a gas-free stand-in for beans. So don't forget the edamame, Mommy.
- Lentils: Branch into beans for folic acid and protein, vitamin B6, and iron. Lentils are the most intestine (and spouse) friendly legume and readily absorb a variety of flavors from other foods and seasonings.
- Mangoes: Sweet revenge for any vegetable avoider, mangoes contain more vitamins A and C bite for delicious bite than a salad. This tropical favorite, also packed with potassium, is especially versatile, a perfect complement to sweet and savory dishes. Blend it into smoothies or soups, chop it up in salsas or relishes, simply scoop and enjoy.
- Nuts: Nuts are chock-full of important minerals (copper, manganese, magnesium, selenium, zinc, potassium, and even calcium) and vitamin E. And even though they're high in fat, it's mainly the good-for-you kind — especially baby- brain-boosting DHA, which is found in walnuts. So in a nutshell, go nuts with nuts (in moderation if you're gaining quickly, liberally if you're gaining slowly) and toss them into salads, pasta, meat, or fish dishes, and baked goods.
- Oatmeal: Here's good reason to feel your oats (and eat them often). They're full of fiber, the B vitamins, and iron and a host of other minerals. Fill your breakfast bowl with them, but don't stop there. You can add oats — and all their nutritional super powers — to pancakes, muffins, cakes, cookies, even meatloaf.
- Red pepper: A super-source of vitamins A and C, with plenty of B6 in the bargain, a red pepper is one of nature's sweetest ways to eat your vegetables. Enjoy their sweet crunch as a crudité, with or without dip (they make the perfect take-along snack). Chop them into salsa, slice them into stir-fries and pasta dishes, or roast or grill them (with a little olive oil, garlic, and lemon) and serve them up in sandwiches, salads, or antipastos.
- Spinach: Rich in folic acid, iron (which you need for all those blood cells, Baby!), vitamin A, and calcium, spinach now comes completely ready to eat in prewashed bags (free of sand). Eat it raw, in a salad (especially one with almonds and mandarin oranges), or as a wilted bed for fish or chicken, or layered in lasagna.
- Yogurt: Cup for cup, yummy yogurt contains as much calcium as milk — but it's packed with protein and folic acid too. Blend it with fruit into satisfying smoothies, layer with granola in a breakfast parfait, use it as a low-calorie substitute for sour cream or mayo in sandwich fillings, dips, and salad dressings, or simply spoon it out of the carton (no matter where you're headed today, a container of yogurt's always easy to find). And here's another reason to find culture: The active cultures in yogurt (also known as good bacteria) can prevent stomach upset, as well as yeast infections.
Of course, this A list is just a short list. There are plenty of other nutritional overachievers to choose from, including whole grains of all kinds, seeds (especially omega-3-rich flax), yams and winter squash, apricots, kiwi (one small kiwi contains as much vitamin C as an orange, plus it's unparalleled for its laxative effects), papaya — and much more.
Source: whattoexpect.com


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Granita provides another opportunity to enjoy watermelon. Photo by Cristina Donnadieu | 21 Club.
Ice Cream & Sorbet
Category Main Page Articles & Reviews
Main Nibbles
Main Page Articles & Reviews Of Foods From A To Z
Product Reviews
Main Page
Foods, Beverages, Books, News & More
August 2010
In Italian, granita means granular. It refers to a frozen ice dessert made without an ice cream machine, so the crystals remain prominent. It's easy to make at home:
A sugar-syrup base, flavored with fruit purée, coffee, herbs and/or wine, is frozen in a baking dish, ice cube tray or similar shallow container. As the crystals on the top of the mixture freeze, they are scraped into a grainy sorbet. (Commercial granitas are frozen in a gelato machine, which produces finer ice crystals.)
This watermelon granita recipe is from Kimberly Bugler, pastry chef at New York's famed 21 Club. Its popularity proves that you don't need an elaborate dessert to please elite diners.
Try An Intermezzo. You can also serve the granita as an intermezzo: a palate-cleanser between fish and meat courses (or between a tart or spicy course and the following course).
Drink Your Dessert. For a cocktail dessert or snack, place a scoop of granita in a martini glass. Top with a shot of vodka (regular or fruit-flavored) or saké, and serve on a service plate with a spoon.
A seedless watermelon saves time removing the seeds from the recipe. Photo courtesy Melissas.org.
Recipe courtesy 21 Club. Other material
© Copyright 2005-2024 Lifestyle Direct, Inc. All rights reserved. All images are copyrighted to their respective owners.


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Thomas R. Wolfing
From WikiFur, the furry encyclopedia.
This article does not cite its references or sources. You can help WikiFur by adding references. For specifics, check the edit history and talk page. Consult the Furry Book of Style for editing help. |
Thomas R. Wolfing (born August 18, 1985) is a artist, who lives in Karak, Jordan and is studying physics at a nearby university. Despite his name, he has always drawn himself as an anthropomorphic hedgehog. He writes and draws the comic Beyond the Mind.
Thomas used to work in many posts (mechanic, medic, translator, etc).
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After hearing, judge delays penalty phase of Jodi Arias trial
(CNN) -- A day after jurors found her guilty of first-degree murder, Jodi Arias and her attorneys met with a judge in a closed-door hearing Thursday, according to a source with knowledge of the proceedings.
The hearing was sealed, and it's unclear what they discussed. But afterward, officials abruptly announced the cancellation of Thursday's court proceedings and said that the trial would not resume until next week.
The last-minute cancellation was the latest twist in a high-profile case that has been marked by drama so intense that spectators line up to get seats in the Phoenix courtroom.
Court proceedings are now scheduled to resume on Wednesday at 10 a.m. (1 p.m. ET). That's because the prosecution's witness, medical examiner Dr. Kevin Horn, is not available Monday or Tuesday, the source with knowledge of the proceedings said.
Although it was not immediately clear what prompted the unexpected scheduling change, some analysts pointed to a television interview Arias gave minutes after the verdict was announced Wednesday.
"I said years ago that I'd rather get death than life, and that still is true today," she told Phoenix television station KSAZ. "I believe death is the ultimate freedom, so I'd rather just have my freedom as soon as I can get it."
Arias told KSAZ that longevity runs in her family, and that the worst possible outcome in the case would be a life sentence without parole.
"I would much rather die sooner than later," she said.
The comments prompted authorities to place Arias on suicide watch, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
After visiting with her family Wednesday night, Arias was transferred from the jail where she had been held to a psychiatric ward at a different jail, the sheriff's office said.
Her mother, Sandra Arias, told In Session's Jean Casarez Thursday evening that authorities did not allow her to visit with her daughter in the psychiatric ward because she is "under watch" there.
Next phase in trial is key
Arias was stoic in court Wednesday. Her eyes briefly welled up with tears as a clerk announced that the jury found her guilty of first-degree murder for killing ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander in June 2008.
Alexander was stabbed repeatedly, shot and nearly decapitated five years ago. Arias says she killed him in self-defense after he attacked her, but the grisly slaying caused even some anti-domestic violence advocates to doubt her case.
The jury's highly anticipated verdict Wednesday after more than 15 hours of deliberation was a significant step in the case.
But the trial isn't over yet.
And Arias, who testified for 18 days during the trial, could speak to jurors again in court.
The next step of the case, known as the aggravation phase, is now scheduled to start on Wednesday.
That phase will move Arias closer to learning whether she will live or die.
Before they can consider imposing the death penalty, jurors must answer a key question: was Arias cruel when she killed Alexander?
To answer that question, prosecutors will have a chance to present additional evidence and jurors will decide whether Alexander's death was caused in a cruel manner.
Prosecutor Juan Martinez is expected to call Horn, the medical examiner, back to the stand to testify about how Alexander suffered before he died.
There are currently 127 people on death row in Arizona. If Arias is given a sentence of death, she would be the fourth woman on death row in the state.
Trial marked by dramatic arguments
In the trial, both sides have dramatically presented their arguments with details about Arias' love affair with Alexander.
"She rewarded that love from Travis Alexander by sticking a knife in his chest," Martinez said in his opening statement. "And you know he was a good man, according to her. And with regard to being a good man, well, she slit his throat as a reward for being a good man. And in terms of these blessings, well, she knocked the blessings out of him by putting a bullet in his head."
But defense attorney Jennifer Willmott countered: "Jodi Arias killed Travis Alexander. There is no question about it. The million-dollar question is what would have forced her to do it?"
Willmott said Arias was the victim of a controlling, psychologically abusive relationship, and Alexander considered Arias "his dirty little secret."
Martinez accused Arias of playing the victim. He alleged she staged the crime scene to make it look like self-defense.
He also accused her of actively seeking to profit from her media attention.
Courtroom bomb threat
Earlier Thursday, the sheriff's office said a suspect had been detained after a reported bomb threat targeting the courtroom where the Arias trial is taking place.
Authorities found no evidence of explosives or threats at the courthouse, Sheriff Joe Arpaio told reporters. A search of the suspect's hotel room revealed bullets, but no gun or explosives, he said.
But Arpaio said deputies were interviewing the suspect and the investigation was ongoing.
"I hope this doesn't disrupt the trial. On the other hand, I think people have to know that this guy who made the threat is behind bars," he said. "Let's go on with the trial and see what happens."


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Prev | Table of Contents | Next The Significance of Names | The Names of God | Writing the Name of God | Pronouncing the Name of God |
Level:Ā Basic
In Jewish thought, a name is not merely an arbitrary designation, a random combination of sounds.Ā The name conveys the nature and essence of the thing named.Ā It represents the history and reputation of the being named.
This is not as strange or unfamiliar a concept as it may seem at first glance.Ā In English, we often refer to a person's reputation as his "good name".Ā When a company is sold, one thing that may be sold is the company's "good will", that is, the right to use the company's name.Ā The Hebrew concept of a name is very similar to these ideas.
An example of this usage occurs in Exodux 3,13-22:Ā Moses asks God what His "name" is.Ā Moses is not asking "what should I call you"; rather, he is asking "who are you; what are you like; what have you done".Ā That is clear from God's response.Ā God replies that He is eternal, that He is the God of our ancestors, that He has seen our affliction and will redeem us from bondage.
Another example of this usage is the concepts of chillul Ha-Shem and kiddush Ha-Shem.Ā An act that causes God or Judaism to come into disrespect or a commandment to be disobeyed is often referred to as "chillul Ha-Shem", profanation of The Name.Ā Clearly, we are not talking about a harm done to a word; we are talking about harm to a reputation.Ā Likewise, any deed that increases the respect accorded to God or Judaism is referred to as "kiddush Ha-Shem", sanctification of The Name.
Because a name represents the reputation of the thing named, a name should be treated with the same respect as the thing's reputation.Ā For this reason, God's Names, in all of their forms, are treated with enormous respect and reverence in Judaism.
The most important of God's Names is the four-letter Name represented by the Hebrew letters Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh (YHVH).Ā It is often referred to as the Ineffable Name, the Unutterable Name or the Distinctive Name.Ā Linguistically, it is related to the Hebrew root Heh-Yod-Heh (to be), and reflects the idea that God's existence is eternal.Ā In scripture, this Name is used when discussing God's relation with human beings, and when emphasizing his qualities of lovingkindness and mercy.Ā It is frequently shortened to Yah (Yod-Heh), Yahu or Yeho (Yod-Heh-Vav), especially when used in combination with names or phrases, as in Yehoshua (Joshua, meaning the LORD is Salvation), Eliyahu (Elijah, meaning my God is the LORD), and Halleluyah (praise the LORD).
The first Name used for God in scripture is Elohim.Ā In form, the word is a masculine plural.Ā The same word (or, according to Maimonides, a homonym of it) is used to refer to princes, judges, other gods, and other powerful beings.Ā This Name is used in scripture when emphasizing God's might, His creative power, and his attributes of justice and rulership.Ā Variations on this name include El, Eloah, Elohai (my God), and Eloheynu (our God).
God is also known as El Shaddai.Ā This Name is usually translated as "God Almighty", however, the derivation of the word "Shaddai" is not known.Ā According to some views, it is derived from the root meaning to heap benefits.Ā According to a Midrash, it means, "The One who said 'dai'" ("dai" meaning enough or sufficient) and comes from the idea that when God created the universe, it expanded until He said "DAI!" (perhaps the first recorded theory of an expanding universe?).Ā The name Shaddai is the one written on the mezuzah scroll.Ā Some note that Shaddai is an acronym of Shomer Daltot Yisrael, Guardian of the Doors of Israel.
Another significant Name of God is YHVH Tzva'ot.Ā This Name is normally translated as LORD of Hosts.Ā The word "tzva'ot" means hosts in the sense of a military grouping or an organized array.Ā The Name refers to God's leadership and sovereignty.Ā Interestingly, this Name is rarely used in scripture.Ā It never appears in the Torah (i.e., the first five books).Ā It appears primarily in the prophetic books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, as well as many times in the Psalms.
Jews do not casually write any Name of God.Ā This practice does not come from the commandment not to take the LORD's Name in vain, as many suppose.Ā In Torah thought, that commandment refers solely to oath-taking and vain blessings, and is a prohibition against using God's Name falsely or frivolously (the word normally translated as "in vain" literally means for falsehood).
The Torah does not prohibit writing the Name of God per se; it only prohibits erasing or defacing a Name of God.Ā However, observant Jews avoid writing any Name of God casually because of the risk that the written Name might later be defaced, obliterated, or destroyed accidentally or by one who does not know better.
The commandment not to erase or deface the name of God comes from Deuteronomy 12,3.Ā In that passage, the people are commanded that when they take over the promised land, they should destroy all things related to the idolatrous religions of that region, and should utterly destroy the names of the local deities.Ā Immediately afterwards, we are commanded not to do the same to our God.Ā From this, the rabbis inferred that we are commanded not to destroy any holy thing, and not to erase or deface a Name of God.
It is worth noting that this prohibition against erasing or defacing Names of God applies only to Names that are written in some kind of permanent form, and recent rabbinical decisions have held that writing on a computer is not a permanent form, thus it is not a violation to type God's Name into a computer and then backspace over it or cut and paste it, or copy and delete files with God's Name in them.Ā However, once you print the document out, it becomes a permanent form.Ā That is why many observant Jews avoid writing a Name of God on web sites like this one or in newsgroup messages:Ā because there is a risk that someone else will print it out and deface it.
Normally, Orthodox Jews avoid writing the Name by substituting letters or syllables, for example, writing "G-d" instead of "God".Ā In addition, the number 15, which would ordinarily be written in Hebrew as Yod-Heh (10-5), is normally written as Tet-Vav (9-6), because Yod-Heh is a Name.Ā See Hebrew Alphabet for more information about using letters as numerals.Ā In English letters, there is no need for these stringencies.Ā On the other hand, especially for those who think that tricky spelling solves their problems, we remind you here of what we say on our introduction page:
IMPORTANT NOTE:Ā If you print from these pages for reading away from your computer, please remember that even where no names of God appear, whatever discusses matters of Torah is forbidden for a Jew to treat with disrespect or to throw away.Ā So either save what you print, or turn it over for burial as required for all holy writings that are no longer needed (or even better, pass it on to a friend to read).
Nothing in the Torah prohibits a person from pronouncing the Name of God.Ā Indeed, it is evident from scripture that God's Name was pronounced routinely.Ā Many common Hebrew names contain "Yah" or "Yahu", part of God's four-letter Name.Ā The Name was pronounced as part of daily services in the Temple.
The Mishnah confirms that there was no prohibition against pronouncing The Name in ancient times.Ā In fact, the Mishnah recommends using God's Name as a routine greeting to a fellow Jew.Ā Berakhot 9,5.Ā However, by the time of the Talmud, it was the custom to use substitute Names for God.Ā Some rabbis asserted that a person who pronounces YHVH according to its letters (instead of using a substitute) has no place in the World to Come, and should be put to death.Ā Instead of pronouncing the four-letter Name, we usually substitute the Name "Adonai"; but sometimes we substitute "Elohim" when YHVH comes either immediately before or after the name "Adonai" itself.
Although the prohibition on pronunciation applies only to the four-letter Name, Jews customarily do not pronounce any of God's many Names except in prayer or study.Ā The usual Orthodox practice is to substitute letters or syllables, so that Adonai becomes Ha-Shem or Adoshem and Eloheynu and Elohim become Elokeynu and Elokim, etc.Ā This practice is quite unnecessary in the context of learning Torah, and it is especially offensive when whole verses are read from the Bible with these ugly substititutes for God's names.
With the Temple destroyed, the prohibition on pronouncing The Name outside of it caused pronunciation of the Name to fall into disuse.Ā Scholars passed down knowledge of the correct pronunciation of YHVH for many generations, but eventually the correct pronunciation was lost, and we no longer know it with any certainty.Ā We do not know what vowels were used, or even whether the Vav in the Name was a vowel or a consonant.Ā See Hebrew Alphabet for more information about the difficulties in pronouncing Hebrew.Ā Some religious scholars suggest that the Name was pronounced "Yahweh", but others do not find this pronunciation particularly persuasive; our opinion is that this pronunciation is quite insulting to God and expresses more the man-centered ignorance of the scholars than the true name of God (in other words, never say "Yahweh", unless you intend to insult Him, God forbid!).
Some Christian scholars render the four-letter Name as "Jehovah", but this pronunciation is particularly unlikely.Ā The word "Jehovah" comes from practice of writing YHVH in the Hebrew Bible with the vowels of the Name "Adonai" (the usual substitute for YHVH) on the consonants of YHVH to remind people not to pronounce YHVH as written.Ā A sixteenth century German Christian scribe, while transliterating the Bible into Latin for the Pope, wrote the Name out as it appeared in his texts, with the consonants of YHVH and the vowels of Adonai, and came up with the word JeHoVaH, and the name stuck.


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Talk on "Exploring the Extreme Universe: Results from the VERITAS Gamma-ray Observatory" at Brookhaven Lab March 13
February 22, 2013
Reshmi Mukherjee
UPTON, NY – Reshmi Mukherjee, a professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College, Columbia University, NY, will give a talk entitled, "Exploring the Extreme Universe: Results from the VERITAS Gamma-ray Observatory" at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory on March 13, at 4:00 p.m. in Berkner Hall. Sponsored by Brookhaven Women in Science (BWIS) and Brookhaven Science Associates, (the company that manages the Lab), the talk is free and open to the public. Visitors to the Laboratory age 16 or older must carry photo I.D.
Very-high-energy gamma-ray astrophysics has emerged as an exciting and vital field, with major discoveries made through experiments in space and on the ground. The Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System, (VERITAS), located in Arizona, is a major ground-based gamma-ray observatory that enables the study of extragalactic and galactic high energy gamma-ray sources. One of the most exciting sources detected by VERITAS is a type of quasar called a blazar. A blazar is a very compact quasi-stellar object associated with what is thought to be a supermassive black hole. Observations at VERITAS indicate that gamma-rays are an important component of the light-speed jet thought to characterize blazars.
The talk at Brookhaven Lab will outline the scientific motivation for very-high-energy gamma-ray astronomy, describe the techniques involved, and survey the astrophysics of the extreme universe as revealed by gamma ray observations.
Reshmi Mukherjee's research interests are in high-energy astrophysics and astroparticle physics. She uses ground-based atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes to study galactic and extragalactic high-energy gamma-ray sources. Mukherjee and the VERITAS collaboration use an array of mirrors and ultra sensitive light detectors in the darkness of a desert night to detect the quick flashes of blue Cherenkov light that result from gamma-ray air showers.
Call (631) 344-2345 for more information. The Laboratory is located on William Floyd Parkway (County Road 46), one-and-a-half miles north of Exit 68 of the Long Island Expressway.
2013-11508 | INT/EXT | Newsroom


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Most animals you come across in the great outdoors will be scared of you, but some animals will be hungry enough to consider you a meal. This infographic from Backpacker Magazine shows the zones of your body animals will go for in an attack and how you can save your own skin.
Not everyone encounters dangerous beasts when they go hiking, but I've personally seen 7 of the 9 animals featured on this list in my own outings. So the chance of an encounter is very real, depending on where you hike.
Remember, most of the time critters will be far more terrified of you than you are of them, but it's important to know what you should do in each of these dangerous situations.
October 2013 Issue | Backpacker Magazine via I Love Charts


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The proliferation of non-government laboratories handling dangerous microorganisms, combined with a troubling incident or two, has prompted the government to consider costly new security measures that scientists fear may be unnecessary and could do more harm than good, according to a new report.
A review of existing biosafety training programs, conducted by two units of AAAS, found that the programs "may already address concerns" that have arisen in Congress and the executive branch about the reliability of personnel at the laboratories, known as high-containment facilities. The report recommends that, before instituting new requirements, the government should "consider existing employment and biosafety training practices... as they may already contribute to vetting of personnel" and the prevention of "malicious actors or unstable personnel" from gaining access to hazardous pathogens.
More than two dozen experts in biosafety, biosecurity and life sciences, as well as architects and engineers, participated in the study, which is based in large part on a workshop they attended at AAAS earlier this year.
Participants warn that security requirements should not become so intrusive or rigid that they hamper vital research and discourage talented researchers from working in the field.
Mark Frankel
"We wanted to get the message across [in this report] as to how we thought the government should be thinking about that," said Mark Frankel, director of the AAAS Program on Scientific Freedom, Responsibility and Law. "We wanted to be sure the hammer wasn't coming down when it really wasn't needed."
The report raises questions about the proposed use in biological research of the kind of "personnel reliability programs" long used in nuclear and chemical weapons laboratories and which may include psychological screening, drug and alcohol abuse testing, background investigations, polygraph testing, credit checks, and top-secret clearances.
"Clearly one of the main things we wanted to do," Frankel said, "is to draw attention to the issue of 'personnel reliability,' which I do not think is well-recognized by life scientists out there in the field. They have absolutely no idea what's coming."
Leaders of the AAAS study point to similar skepticism expressed in recent recommendations from the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), which found no need for the establishment of a formal national personnel reliability program for high-containment facilities. Such a program, it said, "is likely to have unintended and detrimental consequences for the scientific enterprise that . . . could result in more harm to public health and safety and to national security than an insider threat poses."
While government weapons laboratories have been steeped in a culture of security and secrecy, universities and other non-governmental institutions that host the new generation of biological labs have enjoyed a tradition of openness, the NSABB report noted. In addition, there are crucial differences in the types of security that might work. For example, measures are in place to ensure that nuclear material is kept physically secure and inventoried.
Biological research, by contrast, can present even greater challenges in that it deals mostly with live organisms that can be grown from a small sample into large numbers. Most are pathogens that occur in nature and can be isolated from soils or infected hosts outside the lab and used to cause harm. But there is little evidence that traditional nuclear-style security measures added inside the laboratories would mitigate such dangers, the scientists argue.
Kavita Berger
Kavita Berger, project director at the AAAS Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy and co-leader of the new biosafety study, said participants agreed that policymakers' focus should be on how best to use—and strengthen—existing infrastructures to achieve both security and safety goals. For example, she said, assessments of laboratory personnel's inability to work with dangerous biological agents can be made in the course of routine close interactions between faculty and graduate students, trainers and trainees, mentors and staff.
The security problem "just needs to be thought of more strategically. . . and [without] thinking about biosafety issues with the nuclear mindset," she said.
She cited recent instances in which U.S. security requirements have "been a hindrance." The latest example involves the H1N1 (swine) flu virus, "where samples were sent to Canada instead of the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] in Atlanta because of our security regulations. The labs are fine in Canada, but the point is that we are basically cutting ourselves out of the game for global health as well as the global research enterprise, and that's not good."
Since 2001, the number of laboratories designed to handle dangerous biological agents has soared from a handful to some 336 entities spread among the government sector, universities, independent research institutes and private industry. This happened mainly because terrorist attacks and the emergence of new infectious diseases led the government to channel money into biodefense and related public health activities. The number of researchers and support staff registered to work with potentially harmful microbes now totals more than 14,600.
Official anxiety intensified in 2007, with the revelation that the previous year, a researcher at Texas & M University had been infected accidentally with Brucella, a pathogen previously weaponized by the Soviet Union, but the lab had not reported it. That incident and the subsequent allegation that Bruce Ivins, a researcher at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, might have carried out the 2001 anthrax attacks, triggered a flurry of activity including congressional inquiries, legislative proposals, a task force, a call by the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission for an oversight review, and an executive order issued by President George W. Bush on biosecurity and personnel reliability measures.
The AAAS report, titled "Biological Safety Training Programs as a Component of Personnel Reliability," urges the creation of a national, anonymous database documenting exposures and their corrective actions, in order to promote information-sharing and help prevent future incidents.
It also calls for more federal funds for continual training and facility maintenance. Operating high-containment facilities can cost from $5,000 to $50,000 per day in ordinary circumstances and much more when there is "active research" going on, it said.


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Thailand Experience with Phuket
Highlighting Thailand's rich history, fascinating culture, and religious monuments, this Thailand tour includes overnights in Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya, Phitsanulok, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. This tour through Thailand includes visits to some of the cities that have served as the country's capital: Bangkok, Ayutthaya, and Sukhothai. In Bangkok—Thailand's current capital—visit the Temple of the Golden Buddha; the Temple of the Reclining Buddha built in 1832; Phra Pathom Chedi, the world's tallest Buddhist pagoda; and the Grand Palace, the royal residence begun in 1782 where you'll see the Emerald Buddha, Thailand's most sacred Buddhist sculpture. In Ayutthaya, Thailand's ancient capital, your sightseeing includes a visit to Bang Pa-In Palace, which was built as a summer residence for the Kings of Ayutthaya. In Sukhothai, Thailand's 13th-century capital, visit Sukhothai Historic Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with ruins of palaces, temples, and homes. On this Thailand tour, you'll also have an opportunity to learn about the Thai culture. In Bangkok, enjoy a Thai dinner accompanied by Thai classical music and dancers. Visit the legendary Damnoen Saduak floating market and see traders sell exotic fruits, vegetables, and more from their boats. In Chiang Mai, enjoy a traditional Kantoke dinner and dance show, as well as a visit to San Kampaeng to see local craftsmen make Thailand's traditional lacquerware and antique wood furniture.But that's not all…visit the "Golden Triangle," where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet, and take a train ride over the famous River Kwai Bridge, part of the infamous Death Railway built by prisoners during World War II. Visit Hellfire Pass Memorial, which houses a museum detailing the life of the Allied prisoners and Asian laborers who helped build the railway. This Thailand vacation designed for value-minded travelers also includes three nights in Phuket, so you can relax and enjoy this popular beach destination. It's a perfect vacation!
City Highlights
BANGKOKVisit the Temple of the Golden Buddha, Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Grand Palace, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha; Thai dinner with Thai classical music and dancers; visit Damnoen Saduak Floating MarketKANCHANABURIVisit the Allied Forces Cemetery, Thailand-Burma Railway Center, Hellfire Pass Memorial; train ride to Wang Po StationAYUTTHAYAVisit Bang Pa-In PalaceUTHAI THANICruise on the Sakaekrang RiverSUKHOTHAIVisit Sukhothai Historic Park and Wat Si ChumCHIANG RAIExcursion to the Golden Triangle; visit a tea plantation and Wat Rong KhunCHIANG MAIVisit San Kampaeng, an elephant sanctuary, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Doi Suthep
14 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner
Private, deluxe, air-conditioned motorcoach while touring.


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American Jewish World Service has worked in Nicaragua for 14 years, focusing on two of the most pressing challenges facing some of the most disadvantaged groups in the country:
- The struggle for land, food, water and resources needed for the survival of indigenous people
- Human rights violations against women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people
This week, a group of AJWS supporters will travel to Nicaragua to engage with nine of our grantee organizations. They'll meet with staff members who are mobilizing their communities to make long-lasting change.
Our grantees take on critical rights issues in Nicaragua—like Coordinadora Chorotega, which trains local leaders to take legal action against the government's sale of indigenous land. There's also Grupo Safo, which recently opened the first health clinic in Nicaragua specifically for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women.
Want to learn more? Check out Promoting Human Rights in Nicaragua, a new review of AJWS's work in the country.


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US Asked to Prevent Possible 'Genocide' of Persecuted Christians in Southern Sudan
Islamist Gov. Allegedly Wants to Exterminate Native Africans and Christians, Impose Sharia Law
The Islamist government of Sudan has been accused of taking up again the process of systematically killing the people of the Nuba Mountains, a region in the south of the country that is 30 percent Christian – and the U.S. government is being called on to intervene.
The Sudanese government has allegedly continued killing the inhabitants of the Nuba Mountains region lying in an area called Southern Kordofan, where it left off in the 1980s and 1990s, Brad Phillips, president and founder of Persecution Projects Foundation. Phillips, whose Christian nonprofit ministry has been working in Sudan since 1998, confirmed to The Christian Post Friday multiple reports of systematic attacks on people of specific backgrounds in that region since the summer of 2011.
But there is not enough public awareness about the violence, and the ministry has made it its goal to lobby President Barack Obama using a new venture, called Save the Nuba, to prevent their potential genocide. The petition to President Obama, available on the nonprofit's website, has been gathering signatures.
"What we're asking people to do is to sign the petition to let our government know that it has a responsibility to protect innocent civilians there and to use every means possible to try to allow humanitarian access for these people in the Nuba Mountains that are being targeted for annihilation," Phillips told CP.
Sudan is ethnically 70 percent Arab, with the rest of the population being indigenous African peoples like the Fur, Zaghawa, Massalit, Beja, Nuba, and Dinka Ngok. The country has been in the state of civil war for the past two decades largely on ethnic and religious grounds, until 2005, when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed, overseen by the United States.
In July 2011, the southern, mostly Christian territory seceded, establishing South Sudan. That summer, the government of Sudan, which is a country that is 70 percent Muslim and has a conservative Islamic government and a horrific history of violence (as shown by the Darfur conflict), broke the peace agreement and began targeting the ethnic Nuba people in the south, as well as Christians and any apostates from Islam, according to reports. Reports have been emerging that the government's goal is to make the nation ethnically Arab and, religion-wise, Muslim, even at the cost of eradicating all ethnic and religious minorities.
"Basically, the policy of Khartoum [capital of Sudan] that they had before the peace was signed in 2005, and what they have after this interim period is essentially the same," Phillips told CP. "Which is to annihilate the African population, to strictly impose Sharia law in all the areas which they administrate and to [eradicate] the Christian population and the non-observing Muslim population and anybody that is racially 'inferior' as well."
With missions in several locations across the country, Persecution Projects Foundation has been bringing relief, the Gospel and advocacy services to the persecuted people, Phillips told CP. The people fleeing violence were forced to search for shelter in mountain caves and flee abroad, usually to Southern Sudan, which also reportedly recently has been experiencing air strikes from Sudanese forces.
The Nuba population numbers about 500,000, of which about 30 percent are Christians of various denominations, the minister told CP. The people living in the Nuba Mountains region who are either ethnic Nuba, Christian, apostate or associated with the opposition party, are being targeted by government forces systematically, including airstrikes, he said.
It is estimated that around 100,000 people have fled their homes in the region since the second half of 2011, when the Sudanese government launched the offensive against South Kordofan as well as another southern region called Blue Nile.
Phillips' ministry is lobbying for more funding for humanitarian aid in the region, emphasizing that the U.S. government is not only responsible for protecting the vulnerable people from potential genocide, but also for guarding the peace agreement which it oversaw.
"The rebel leaders are not asking for any help except they recognize that the tactic [of the government] is not to fight soldiers but to kill civilians," he added. That is the same tactics used previously in the Darfur conflict, he suggested, calling the government a "terrorist regime."
"The [U.S.] government has the responsibility as caretakers of this peace agreement" to come with help to the endangered people, Phillips said. "Khartoum is not fulfilling its part of the deal."